News Release

Hilton Head Island Town Council Approves Plan for the Mid-Island District

November 8, 2022

The Hilton Head Island Town Council has given the green light for a plan to revitalize the Mid-Island District, situated in the center of the Island.

"After months of public engagement and the development of numerous ideas, I'm excited that we are moving plans forward to enhance and transform the center of Hilton Head Island. There are so many opportunities to turn this area around and elevate it into a space that attracts business investments, further preserves our historic neighborhoods, and reflects our strong appreciation for our environment," said Mayor John McCann.

With passage of its resolution on Tuesday, November 1, the Town Council formally adopted the Mid-Island District Plan, which will serve as the basis for the implementation of redevelopment strategies within the district. The district extends from the shores of the Atlantic Ocean, encompassing areas along Beach City, Union Cemetery and Dillon roads, to Broad Creek including areas along William Hilton Parkway, Leg-O Mutton Road and Gardner Drive.

The district is currently comprised of a mix of old and new commercial developments, industrial uses, residential neighborhoods, the Hilton Head Island Airport, Town-owned parklands and conservation areas, and significant cultural resources that anchor the district, including the Historic Mitchelville Freedom Park, Union Cemetery and historic churches. Several of Hilton Head Island's historic Gullah Geechee neighborhoods, namely Grassland, Big Hill, Mitchelville, Baygall and Marshland, are also a part of the district.

At the center of the district is the Town's Mid-Island Tract, a 103-acre property that will become a gathering place for residents and visitors. Across the parkway from the Mid-Island Tract, the district’s central area will consist of mixed-use redevelopment that reimagines the existing retail shopping centers as dynamic, sustainable, vibrant commercial and residential centers. Within the district’s historic neighborhoods, the plan proposes enabling a more consistent development pattern with density at six to eight dwelling units per acre and neighborhood commercial uses.

"With significant public investment, our goal is to explore both the redevelopment potential of existing commercial and retail areas, and revitalization opportunities within the Island’s historic neighborhoods. Adoption of this resolution by Town Council gives us the direction to start working on strategies to enhance and transform this area," said Town Manager Marc Orlando.

Implementation of the Mid-Island District Plan will be guided by a set of six strategic actions that will enable the Town to take a methodical approach to transform the district. These six strategic actions include:

• Adopting a future land use map that will set the stage for updating the zoning code and creating standards.
   
• Implementing plans and designs for developing the park on the Mid-Island Tract.
   
• Adopting a policy framework to support ongoing Island-wide planning efforts and initiatives to address infill development, mixed-income housing, housing types, energy efficiency, transit and mobility, and sustainability within the district.
   
• Updating the zoning code and map and creating standards that will result in a compact, walkable, and vibrant district. The zoning code update and creation of standards will be instrumental in guiding infill development in historic neighborhoods and the redevelopment of the commercial shopping centers in the Mid-Island District to create a dynamic, mixed-use district center.
   
• Leveraging planned public investments in public space, corridors, alternative transportation, and infrastructure to facilitate the development of the district and the reinvestment in historic neighborhoods.
   
• Establishing organizational and financial tools to acquire needed funding, create public-private partnerships, and streamline the regulatory process.

The Mid-Island District Plan is available on the Town's website at www.hiltonheadislandsc.gov/midisland/. For more information, contact Missy Luick, Community Planning Manager, at MissyL@hiltonheadislandsc.gov or 843-341-4693.